A quick jaunt round Etherow at 13:30 for 2 hours, so only up round Ernocroft and then to the hide.

A couple of large tit flocks mainly consisting of Long tailed Tit's and Coal Tit's but with a few Blue and Great tit's thrown in for good measure. Accompanying them were good numbers of Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.

Tonight 7.30-9.00pm
1 egyption goose sat at the top of the weir on the log/twigs
3 grey wagtail
2 grey heron on the pond near the hide
1 kingfisher 1 wren and 1 jay from the hide but the highlight for me was 4 dipper including 2 juvenile around the weir area all in my binocular view together at one time.

The egyptian goose 'Ernie' is definately not the same bird as the one at Platt Fields. I visited both areas one day last year and both were present. Good to have him back at Etherow. Ive noticed the mute swans usually dont tolerate him during the breeding season and he is often alone during this time. The same happened last year. Hopefully they'll be buddies again soon.

I have memories of multiple Egyptian Geese being at Etherow going back perhaps around thirty years. Does anyone know the history of their being at this site?I feel sorry for this last one, who seems a real character; perching on the feeding station in the nature reserve or honking noisily constantly. Pity someone with a wildfowl collection can't donate him a mate!

I think it was council driven. When I first moved to Romiley in 1986, I recall visiting the park and there being a range of 'tame' ducks and geese. Pintail I remember vividly, and I'm fairly sure about wood duck (and maybe mandarin). I have a photograph from about that time of an Egyptian goose taken in ECP. Within very few years none of them remained.

I have memories of multiple Egyptian Geese being at Etherow going back perhaps around thirty years. Does anyone know the history of their being at this site?I feel sorry for this last one, who seems a real character; perching on the feeding station in the nature reserve or honking noisily constantly. Pity someone with a wildfowl collection can't donate him a mate!

Bit of a late post, I visited a friend (& birder) who lives overlooking Etherow CP on 27th June this year. We walked down to Keg Pool where to my surprise the Egyptian Goose was stood on a half submerged branch not far from the path. I had read about him being taken away to get his foot sorted & hadn't expected him to be back so soon! So he was definitely back in the park on 27th June................................... unless we have a two bird theory

Thanks, Keith. All these Egyptian Geese ... I wonder where the current incumbent came from? I hear he had a mate, who died a couple of years ago and he kind of bonded with some mute swans. Presumably there were no chicks from that liaison, unless Eugene 2/3 is a blood descendent of Eugene 1 (?). As Juan Domingo Perón said, ¡El pueblo quiere saber de qué se trata! (well he spoke Spanish - in English, 'The people want to know what's going on!').

An enjoyable but ultimately fruitless search for Pied Flycatcher around sunny corner this morning, with similar birds to yesterday. However, in addition were:2+ Kingfisher2 Little GrebeEgyptian Goose4 Tufted Duck

9-10.30 Main car park to cwt hide:40+ mandarinGoosanderDipper2 Grey WagtailKingfisher reportedly on 2nd brood2+ bullfinchBlackcapChiffchaff2 Nuthatch5 swallowCormorantMany young of more common species about.

The work would take place in the area between the wooden bridge over the overflow, and the bridge at the wierhead.It doesn't look too bad to me from the Dippers point of view, but I'll let you make your own mind up about that.

I wasn't sure that you were talking about ECP's dippers when I replied, but now you've confirmed it I can say that the Park is not west of the roadbridge (IF they mean Andrew St. in Compstall). There is a weir down river at the back of Compstall Hall (as you may know). I'm guessing that is where they might be planning to do it, and I am not aware of dippers using that area to breed.

Cheers,

Andy

Andy a quick look at the planning documents shows the area under consideration to be the grassy area with the bench's and shelter in-between the river and canal.

I can't figure out whether the work will affect the area where the dippers breed, obviously it will affect the vicinity but the actual location I'm not sure, I think it's also likely to affect the Grey Wagtails as that area is normally the place I've seen them feeding from.

I guess I meant goodbye to Dippers in the vicinity the weir bridge where they have bred in the past. Inevitably there will be lots of disturbance during construction but when the dust settles perhaps they will love it. I hear that Dippers have bred near other such projects so perhaps I over-reacted.

Cheers John

John,

I wasn't sure that you were talking about ECP's dippers when I replied, but now you've confirmed it I can say that the Park is not west of the roadbridge (IF they mean Andrew St. in Compstall). There is a weir down river at the back of Compstall Hall (as you may know). I'm guessing that is where they might be planning to do it, and I am not aware of dippers using that area to breed.

The question of Dippers and small hydro schemes has been raised before - in New Mills. I'm not familiar with the locality to be able to comment, but it would be useful if a local with knowledge of the Dipper nest site could write to the planning authority. I would imagine that some form of mitigation could be included in the planning approval (if it goes ahead). If a nest box was provided, Nev Powell would be prepared to help I'm sure.

I guess I meant goodbye to Dippers in the vicinity the weir bridge where they have bred in the past. Inevitably there will be lots of disturbance during construction but when the dust settles perhaps they will love it. I hear that Dippers have bred near other such projects so perhaps I over-reacted.

I did raise the issue of the music festival on this website a while ago. Not sure if anyone was interested. I contacted the Council but found I was way out of my depth with the sort of stuff they quoted and what I would have to do to lodge a 'proper' complaint. Not sure why the installation of the hydro plant would mean goodbye to the dippers (unless you know something I don't). In any case it would just be an eyesore on quite a wild stretch of river, but hey, what do Stockport Council care? Delusions of grandure figure very highly in their plans for World domination (well North-West England anyway).

As well as the large sign on the path to the hide advertising "Blackthorn Music Festival - Last week in July" [see http://www.blackthornmusicfestival.co.uk] there was a council notice by the bridge at the weir.

This one announced application for planning permission for an "Archimedes Screw hydro-elecrtic plant at Weirhead, Compstall. West of the road bridge over River Etherow". Presumably similar to the one at Otterspool. Goodbye Dippers?

For anyone interested in objecting (almost pointless I would have thought) the Planning Application Number is DC055241. Notice dated 5th May and there is then a 21 day period to lodge objections.

This am 9-11:
3 willow warbler
6 chiffchaff
12 blackcap
2 swallow
Egyptian goose
7 mandarin
4 nuthatch
treecreeper
Common buzzard
Stock dove
goldcrest
Great crested grebe
Also whilst in woods a bird flew over that was very egret shaped, light coloured and had the flight jizz of an egret. Saw for 1 second then hidden by trees. Might be worth looking for locally?

Noticed the ground clearing a couple of weeks ago when i was last there, hadn't realised how big that area was, with it previously being overgrown, & as you say Mark, theres plenty of scope to develop a nice little marsh area

Interesting development around the marshy area near the king fisher statue on keg pool, looks like they're clearing the willow out to help native plants to come through as well as hopefully creating a suitable marsh habitat for birds. Handled well it could be a nice area.

Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, from the hide Nuthatches, Treecreeper, obliging kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Mandarin, Tufted Ducks Coal Tit, further on 2 Buzzard, top of wood more of the species listed Goldcrest Keg Willow Tit and Egyptian thing, and on lodge 6 Swallow.

Willow Tit? Are you quite sure you've got that right Ian? Haven't seen one in the area for over a decade.

Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, from the hide Nuthatches, Treecreeper, obliging kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Mandarin, Tufted Ducks Coal Tit, further on 2 Buzzard, top of wood more of the species listed Goldcrest Keg Willow Tit and Egyptian thing, and on lodge 6 Swallow.

First Chiffchaff of the year - 3 seen in totalAppear to be a healthy number of Tufted ducks pairing up, having seemingly dropped in numbers over the last few years.Pair of very vocal Buzzards over Ernocroft WoodPlenty of Nuthatches about

I then returned to the weir at about 5.40 and was rewarded with great views of 2 Dippers and 2 Grey Wagtails. The Dippers performed a courtship dance to one another that involved displaying their white throats and then dancing from side to side with their wings fanned. A lovely sight to end a productive couple of hours!

Last chance you people out there. I have received a reply to the concerns which I voiced to Stockport MBC that make for, shall we say, interesting reading. It looks as if we are looking at events for over 200 people which could last in excess of 24 hours!! All sorts of factors will be put in place to stop people going off site with alcohol, and to keep events drug free (because everyone is just so law abiding these days). Oh, and the music (which appears to be confined to indoors) will be restricted to 11:00 to 00:00 only (some concession that!). I hope others will at least raise some issues with the authorities. You only have until 11th March. Otherwise one feels that your day in the park is about to become that bit more crowded (and noisy).